Montee Ball vows to work on fumble issue for Denver Broncos

For the second consecutive game, rookie running back Montee Ball fumbled the ball away. This time it was in the fourth quarter Monday night against the Oakland Raiders as the Broncos were trying to run out the clock. In the previous game against the New York Giants, Ball fumbled the ball away into the end zone, spoiling a long, opening drive.

Ball said he would work with the “ballblaster” machine among other extra practice this week. What happened Monday against the Raiders?

“I was blindsided — I didn’t see the hit — but that’s no excuse,” Ball said. “Right now, I don’t need the coaches to tell me what I did wrong. I know what I did was unacceptable. I’m going to work on it.”

Enjoy these first three weeks, but go into every week after knowing that the Broncos are one season or career ending injury (Manning) from being the twin brother of the Oakland Raiders. The ONLY reason the Broncos are where they are is because of a 37-year old quarterback. And he’s got maybe another season or two and then it’s over, assuming he makes it that far or even wants to play that long.

Once Manning is gone, the Broncos will be looking at a long time under .500. Osweiler is not even close to being Denver’s answer post-Manning. Not close.

An before you even ask, no…I am not a Raiders, or Chargers or Pats or Ravens fan. Not a real fan of football at all. Just an observer.

willcommentforfood

Tebow fan. Tebow would be appalled at your silly comment.

Broncos Suck

Spot on. When Manning is gone, Bronco fans can look at regular 4-12 & 5-11 seasons. Chiefs will be the new AFC West Kings.

C-Love

What a low life… And when Rodgers is gone GB is done. Same with NO, NE & BAL. Don’t think Alex Smith belongs with any of those names/teams. Haters are out in the masses.

If you are not even a fan of the game, then why go out of your way to post? Also, I will deduct by the comment you don’t know much about football, so maybe they will wait to cut Os, even if you don’t see why.

Wayne Coleman

Well, you better find out a little more about football then, because Osweiller is better than you think—Oh, John Elway and Peyton Manning saying he is very good doesn’t mean anything???? Dream on non football fan–you are a moron!!!!!LMFAO

Miami Mike

Every NFL team with a star qb is in same situation. If Aaron Rodgers or Drew Breese is not able to play they would be in same spot. Denver is grooming thier next qb who Elway drafted. Denver will be fine. No they wont have it as easy but again every team with a superstar qb will go through a drop. Thats why these special qbs don’t come around every day.

Floridacoastdude

Ted, and your point is? Any team losing their starting QB would be in disarray. Denver, Miami, you name it. the starting QB goes down, you probably will start losing a few games. Your comment fits ANY team in the NFL. The season is early. Denver’s true AFC foes it appears will be KC and Miami at this early season looks.

Truth

You are a complete idiot. You’re not saying anything that can’t be said about most the elite teams in the league…..if they lose their QB, they would not be nearly as good. Who is to say that when Manning is done in 2 or 3 years, they don’t go out and trade or sign another elite QB. That’s how football works…..just explaining it since you appear to have no clue…..MORON!

Buck Schafer

How wrong you are TED! I can still see Denver as a playoff team, even after Manning. They have stud receivers and a great young talented TE. A great offensive line, and will also have 20 million extra dollars a year to sign more talent. Not to mention Von Miller, Woodyard, and 3 young and talented corners.

willcommentforfood

Yup, plus they can sign or draft another quality QB to compete with, or displace Ossweiller. No dissing him either, as he’s coming along well. But the Dysert signing convinced me that management will be sure to get a quality QB to compete with and replace Brock if he falters.

TheWyzeMan

Brock may turn out to be a great quarterback in my opinion. He has had a lot of time to study and learn from Peyton. He has the height and a strong arm.

macomment

Dysert looked great in the few shots he got … hence, the roster spot and not wanting to risk him to waivers. I actually feel better about him since Osweiler only had about a season of starting in college.

Ed

Von Miller will be a memory after this season. He’ll be cut. Too much of a liability in seeing that his next foul up will cost him an entire season suspension.

engineer61

It’s just time for Miller to grow up. Either he will, and assume a leadership role with the defense and fulfill his potential to be a Hall of Famer, or he won’t in which case yes, Elway will trade him off to someone else, both sides hoping that it will shock Miller into finally growing up.

Dave

Miller has ZERO trade value. Why?

Because his next screw up (and you can bet the moon that there will be another very shortly) will cost him a full NFL season, and every one after will do the same. Miller is a train wreck that has already gone off the cliff and cannot be saved.

willcommentforfood

He has huge trade value. Young, healthy and dominant player, an HOF player. Plenty of teams would take a chance on him despite the threat of a whole season suspension. The Jets, The Raiders, maybe the Chargers, Bears, Jags would trade for him. He could turn around some teams’ defenses. Lots of bad teams with bad owners could trade for him, as could a good team needing one more pass rusher or linebacker for a playoff run. I think you underestimate how many general managers are willing to risk this. In some cases, they’d be coming out ahead despite the risk. In others, the dysfunctional nature is a good draw for a trade, think of nutty Cleveland management.

ugly mutt

You act like it’s one and you’re done. How many times did did your parents give up on you ? Give the young man a break. I think he has a heavy burden to carry and needs some encouragementinstead of being everybody’s voodoo doll and being stuck with pins .Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. GET OFF THE GUYS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

willcommentforfood

A player that valuable doesn’t get cut, he gets traded for a boatload of high draft choices. Or he stays and straightens out and plays great. Either way, it’s a win for the Broncos.

Dave

No team will trade for Miller. He’s going to be suspended for an entire season with his next screw up.

joefalco

Ha ha. So many geniuses here. Von Miller will be around 15 years like Ray Lewis. Stupid comment

C-Love

Here’s the thing, we won with TEBOW! Now that shows something about our organization. We are not a losing organization by no means. And we have had more playoff action than any other AFCW team. So when these idiots try and say we’ll be bottom feeders once PFM is gone, they forget to realize we always find a way to complete. Off year here and there but never like OAK or KC

macomment

Why’s he going to work on fumbling? It’s the only thing he’s good at.

willcommentforfood

Ball only fumbled once during his 4 year career at Wisconsin as the starting featured running back. Four years with only one fumble! Now with the Broncos, he’s fumbled a couple times. Maybe his mind is nervous keeping track of a complex offense and not focusing enough on protecting the ball away from NFL players who are better at stripping the ball than in college. But I have no doubt he will overcome the fumbling problem because one fumble in four years in college tells you that he knows how to protect the ball and isn’t one of those backs that were fumblers in college.

macomment

I hope he goes back to his old ways and stops fumbling every 15 carries. Maybe he can’t handle the big-boy rock and needs to go back to something smaller.

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.